Calvin McLelland and James Knots detained for homophobic attack

Two men who carried out a vicious homophobic attack on a gay couple in the Gorbals area of Glasgow have each been detained for nine months.

Calvin McLelland, 20, and 16-year-old James Knots confronted Dillon Jeffreys, 25, and his partner, Connor Sullivan, 19, in McNeil Street on 17 August 2013.

McLelland punched Mr Jeffreys to the ground. When Mr Sullivan intervened he was attacked by McLelland and Knots.

Both admitted assault aggravated by prejudice over sexual orientation.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Sam Cathcart told the pair that "in view of the gravity of these offences" that the only appropriate sentence was custody.

The court previously heard that Mr Jeffreys and Mr Sullivan were partners and had been socialising in Glasgow city centre on 16 August 2013.

Just after midnight they made their way home through the Gorbals where they saw a group of youths, including the two accused.

Procurator fiscal depute Mark Allan said: "Dillon Jeffrey was asked by a member of the group 'Are you gay?' to which he replied 'Yes'.

"Connor Sullivan was then asked 'Are you gay?' to which he replied 'Yes'.

"Connor Sullivan then heard the word 'faggot' being used as Calvin McLelland approached and thereafter punched Dillon Jeffrey, knocking him to the ground."

The court heard Mr Sullivan intervened before being punched by McLelland and sent to the ground.

Mr Allan added: "Thereafter James Knots and McLelland were involved in an assault when Dillon Jeffreys was on the ground."

They repeatedly kicked him on the head and body - all of which was seen by two police officers in plain clothes, who were dealing with another incident.

When McLelland and Knots spotted the police they ran off and an ambulance was called for the two victims.

Mr Jeffreys had a cut on the back of his head treated with two stitches. He continued to feel sick and dizzy which was investigated and found to be caused by a skull fracture.

Mr Sullivan suffered bruising as a result of the attack on him.

McLelland, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, was found at his home address the next day.

The apprentice bricklayer pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Jeffreys to his severe injury and assaulting Mr Sullivan to his injury, both charges aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.

Knots, from the Gorbals area of Glasgow, was traced a month after the attack.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Jeffreys to his severe injury, aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.